Handle-bar for bicycles



0. G. DIETERIOH. HANDLE BAR FOR BIGYGLES.

Patented'May 18,1897.

CHARLES G. DIETERIOH, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

HANDLE-BAR FOR BICYCLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 582,902, dated May 18, 1897.

Application filed June 6, 1896. Serial No. 594,487. (No model.)

moment raise or lower thehandle-bar at will with little effort, so as to lower it for scorching or raise it when he desires to proceed at slower speed; and the invention consists of a handle-bar for bicycles which is so constructed as to turn on its axis in the supporting-sleeve at the upper end of the fork of the front wheel, said sleeve being provided with internal teeth that are engaged by a toothed slidepiece guided in an inclined longitudinal recess of a stationary block supported in the handle-bar against the tension of a cushioning-spring interposed between a shank on the slide-piece and guide-block, said slide-piece being operated by a chain which is connected with one of the handles, which slides on the handle-barand is locked thereto byaspringcushioned button, as will be fully described hereinafter and finally pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my improved handle-bar for bicycles,-partly in section at the end, so as to show the connection with its sliding handle. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section on line 2 2, Fig. 1, through the bearing of the handle-bar, said figure being drawn on a larger scale. Fig. 3 is a horizontal longitudinal section on line 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4:. is a vertical transverse section through the handle-bar and sliding handle on line 4 at, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail vertical longitudinal section through the locking device of said handle. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail horizontal section on line 6 6, Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is a detail of the outermost end of the handle-bar, showing the slot along which the handle is guided in its sliding motion.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

- Referring to the drawings, A represents the spindle of the front fork; B, asleeve or bearing that is rigidly attached to the upper end of the spindle A and which is provided with internal teeth Z7, as shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 3. The sleeve B is provided at one end with an inwardly-projecting flange b, which abuts against a shoulder 19 of one of the ends of the handle-bar O. The opposite end of the handle-bar O is likewise provided with a shoulder 11 against which abuts a ring-shaped screw-nut 0 that takes into an interior screwthread of the sleeve B. About one half of the mid-length handle-bar is cut away nearly for such length as the same is within its sleeve B, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to form a semicircular connecting portion O, against the edges of which abut the lateral shoulders d of a hollow guide-block D, which is arranged in said recessed portion of the handie-bar.

The guide-block D is provided with a radial undercut recess D, having an inclined bottom, so as to guide a toothed slide-piece E,which is provided with teeth 6 at its upper end that intermesh with the internal teeth of the sleeve B, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The guide-block D is prevented from rotating axially by its lateral shoulders d, which abut against the edges of the recessed portion of the han dle-bar. The slide-piece is likewise prevented, like the guide-block, from axial rotation, but moves in a longitudinal direction in such a manner that as the same slides along the inclined bottom part of the guide-block its teeth are withdrawn from the teeth of the sleeve B and the slide-piece thereby moved out of engagement with the sleeve, so that the handle-bar can then be turned on its axis in the sleeve in upward or downward direction, as desired.

Longitudinal motion is imparted to the slide-piece E by means of a chain F, that is attached to one end of the slide-piece and conducted through one end of the handle-bar O to the extremity of the same, Where it is attached to the end of the sliding handle 0 The opposite end of the slide-piece E is provided with a shank f, that extends into the handle-bar C, said shank being provided with a stop-screw nut f at its outer end. Ahelical spring f is introduced between the nut f and awasherf that is set against the guideblock D, as shown in Fig@ 3, so that the ten sion of the springf moves the slide-piece toward one end of the guide-block, so that its toothed portion engages with the teeth of the sleeve B. XVhen the handle 0 is moved in outward direction, on releasing a button G, arranged on said handle, the spring f is compressed and the slide-piece moved out of mesh with the sleeve I3, whereby the handle-bar is disconnected from the sleeve and permitted to be turned on the axis of the central portion in upward or downward direction. The shank g of the button G is guided in a longitudinal slot G of the handle-bar and into an interior support g, between which and the handle-bar a helical cushioning-spring is interposed, by which the button G is moved in upward direction into an enlarged opening or socket at the end of slot G when not depressed by the action of the thumb on the knob G \Vhen it is desired to adjust the handlebar, the button G is depressed, so that the sliding handle can slide in outward direction, whereby the slide-piece by the connectingehain acting thereon is moved against the tension of its cushioning-spring along the guide-block into its drawn position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, so as to be out of engagement with the sleeve 1 and permit thereby the turning of the handle-bar until the handle C is released and returned by the action of the cushioning-spring f into its normal position, in which the button locks the handle in position on the handle-bar and the slide-piece resumes its position in mesh with the internal teeth of the sleeve 1;, so that the handle-bar is rclocked in position.

The adjustment of the handle-bar is of great advantage to cyclists, as it can be lowered when scorching or when racing or against the wind and raised when the cyclist desires to raise up on his wheel and rest for a time. The adjusting mechanism is easily operated through the sliding motion of the handle by a depression of the button G, and the handlebar is rigidly locked by the toothed portion of the slide, which intermeshes with the internal teeth of the sleeve. 13y unscrewing the screw-nut C the bar can be readily taken out in case any repairs should be necessary, replaced in working position in the sleeve, and retained therein by screwing in the screw- 5 nut.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Iatent 1. The combination, with an internallytoothed sleeve on the post or spindle of the front fork, of a handle-bar having a recessed portion, a hollow guide-block arranged in and interlocking with said recessed portion, said guide-block being provided with a longitudi nalrecess open at one side,aslide-piece guided in the recess of said block and having a toothed portion projectinglaterally beyond the guideblock,acushioning-springforsaid slide-piece, a chain connected to the slide -piece, and means for pulling the chain so as to move the slide-piece out ol' engagement with the teeth of the sleeve, and for returning it into ongagement therewith for locking the handlebar in adjusted position, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with an internallytoothed sleeve or bearing at the upper end of the spindle or post of the front fork, of the handle-bar provided with a recessed middle portion within said sleeve, a recessed guideblock set in said recessed portion and provided with lateral shoulders abutting against the edges of the recessed portion, aslide-piece having a radial toothed portion and guided along the inclined bottom of the guide-block, a shank on the slide-picec,a cushioning-spring interposed between the guide-block and a nut on the shank of said slide-piece, and a chain attached to the slide-piece, said spring and chain being adapted to move the slide-piece into or out of mesh with the teeth of the sleeve, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of a handle-bar for cycles provided with a longitudinal slot at its outer end, said slot having an enlargement at one end, a sliding handle guided 011 said handle-bar, an inwardly-projecting support on the handle extending through said slot and into the handle-bar, a spring-cushioned button adapted to enter the enlargement of said slot, the shank of said button being guided in said support 011 the handle, and a knob exposed through the handle for depressing said button, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

Cl IARLES G. DIETERICII.

Witnesses:

l \UL GoErEL, GEO. W. JAEKEL. 

